Regional Dairy Task Force Impacting Modernization
US - The Regional Dairy Modernization Task Force is making an impact on dairy producers' livelihoods as they seek to help producers modernize.
26 February 2008
2 minute read
The group was put together six years ago as an action team of the Southwest Wisconsin Regional Economic Development Coalition, which is made up of dairy producers, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, UW-Extension, University of Illinois Extension, Iowa State Extension, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College, local banks and a variety of other agribusinesses.
* "The Task Force has had an unbelievable impact. When we started this, we didn't dream that it would do this much for this many people." |
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Kevin Bernhardt, professor of agribusiness at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.
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"As producers modernize, they help keep the dairy industry in Wisconsin," said Kevin Bernhardt, professor of agribusiness at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. "When they modernize, they are making a commitment to continue to be part of the dairy industry. That keeps the infrastructure here. If people want to invest in the industry, they have to have a feeling that this is a long term place to do it."
Each year, the Task Force holds two types of educational events--the annual Dairy Summit and a series of Pathways to Success on farm workshops. Through these workshops, dairy producers and the industry develop skills and knowledge, network with other producers and develop entrepreneurial confidence and support of the local community to reduce barriers to modernization. To date, the Task Force has held 34 events with 1,693 participants.
"The Task Force has had an unbelievable impact. When we started this, we didn't dream that it would do this much for this many people. It's impacted a lot of producers," said Kevin Raisbeck of First National Bank in Platteville and a member of the Regional Dairy Modernization Task Force.
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